More medical doctors are rallying in support of the Medical Council, in the wake of an apparent campaign to discredit it. This follows Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin’s veto of the council’s decision to discipline three doctors, over former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s controversial stay on the 14th floor of Police General Hospital for six months while serving a prison sentence.
Assistant Professor Dr. Prayong Temchawala, a student leader at Mahidol University in 1973, issued a statement today, urging all members of the Medical Council to show up at the council’s meeting, the date for which is yet to be set, to overturn Somsak’s veto and uphold the council’s resolution.
He also urged the doctors and members of the public to sign a petition, demanding the removal of Somsak from office, and the government under the leadership of Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Ironically, he thanked Somsak for inspiring the doctors to unite in a common cause cause, which is a rare phenomenon.
Meanwhile, 45 doctors of Class 34 at Chulalongkorn University also issued a statement today, urging the public to provide moral support to the Medical Council and to monitor the case closely.
The group maintains that disciplining medical practitioners by the Medical Council is an internal affair for the medical community and should be free from political interference.
Thaksin, in the meantime, told the media today that Public Health Minister Somsak has the authority to accept or veto the Medical Council’s resolution, adding that he has no idea whether the minister’s decision will be benefit him or not.
Asked about the leaked post from the Line group of some council members, whom he accused of “scolding” him, Thaksin claimed that one of them is a senior member of the council and threatened to reveal his name.
Asked again whether he will attend the hearing of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Officer Holders on June 13th, he said he will consult his lawyers first.
